Sue Allen Warren (December 2, 1917 – November 16, 1997) was an American clinical psychologist and educator known for her contributions to the field of

intellectual An intellectual is a person who engages in critical thinking, research, and Human self-reflection, reflection about the nature of reality, especially the nature of society and proposed solutions for its normative problems. Coming from the wor ...

and

developmental disabilities Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions, comprising mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, espe ...

. She retired from

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...

as an emeritus professor in 1988.

Early life and education

Warren was born in

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

on December 2, 1917. She earned her bachelor's degree in education from

East Carolina University East Carolina University (ECU) is a public university in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of universities in North Carolina by enrollment, fourth largest university in North Carolina and the only one in the state with s ...

in 1939. She later obtained a master's degree in

clinical psychology Clinical psychology is an integration of human science, behavioral science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well ...

from

Duke University Duke University is a Private university, private research university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity, North Carolina, Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1 ...

in 1951 and a Ph.D. in

child development Child development involves the Human development (biology), biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings between birth and the conclusion of adolescence. It is—particularly from birth to five years— a foundation ...

and sociology from the

State University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into 12 colleges offer ...

in 1955. Her dissertation was titled, ''Ethnocentrism, Reported Parent Attitudes, and Parent Child Relationships''. Boyd R. McCandless was her doctoral advisor.

Career

Warren began her career as an elementary school teacher in rural North Carolina. She later served as the director of psychological services and research in the Williamsville Central School District. Warren was a professor at the

University at Buffalo The State University of New York at Buffalo (commonly referred to as UB, University at Buffalo, and sometimes SUNY Buffalo) is a public university, public research university in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo and Amherst, New York, United States. ...

. From 1959 to 1963, Warren was the director of the psychology department at the Oregon Fairview Home. In 1964, she received a Capper Award for Service in Mental Retardation from the Oregon Association for Retarded Children. She then became an associate professor at the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine,

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois, or University of Illinois) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United ...

, where she also directed psychological services at the Illinois State Pediatric Institute. In 1969, Warren moved to

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

to become the Region V Administrator for the Department of Mental Health. She joined

(BU) as a full-time faculty member in 1970, where she held various positions including coordinator of the mental retardation program from 1972 to 1974, chair of the department of special education from 1974 to 1979, and director of the division of special and counselor education from 1979 to 1980. Warren retired from BU in 1988 as an emeritus professor. In the

American Psychological Association The American Psychological Association (APA) is the main professional organization of psychologists in the United States, and the largest psychological association in the world. It has over 170,000 members, including scientists, educators, clin ...

(APA), Warren raised awareness about intellectual disabilities. She served on the APA's Council of Representatives from 1961 1963 and various task forces and committees related to intellectual disabilities. Warren was a life member of the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR), serving in various roles including as president from 1975 to 1976. She was the editor of the journal ''Mental Retardation'' from 1970 to 1982. Warren was a fellow of the AAMR.

Personal life

Warren had a son. After retiring, she became a state debate judge in

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

, inspired by her grandchildren's interest in debate. Warren died in her sleep on November 16, 1997.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warren, Susan Allen 1917 births 1997 deaths American clinical psychologists 20th-century American women scientists 20th-century American psychologists American women psychologists Scientists from North Carolina East Carolina University alumni Duke University alumni University of Iowa alumni University at Buffalo faculty University of Illinois faculty Boston University faculty